Imax saw profits surge and revenue rise last quarter as the company beat Wall Street forecasts with global box office up 19% year-on-year and its highest grossing domestic quarter ever at $143 million. On just over 400 screens, the large format exhibitor delivered at least 10% of the domestic opening on seven consecutive "filmed for Imax" releases this summer with a 20% shares for Sinners, Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning and F1: The Movie. A 10% share "used to be the high end of what we delivered ...

YouTube ad revenue increased by double digits in the second quarter, helping parent Alphabet beat Wall Street estimates. Total revenue for the period ended June 30 climbed 14% over the year-ago quarter to reach $96.4 billion, while diluted earnings per share also rose to $2.31. Both metrics exceeded Wall Street analysts’ consensus forecasts. Advertising on YouTube increased 13% to $9.8 billion. CEO Sundar Pichai saluted the division’s “strong performance” in the tech giant’s earnings release. Despite all ...

EXCLUSIVE: Sony Pictures Entertainment has hired two key strategy executives to round out the team reporting to Jay Levine, Chief Strategy Officer & Business Operations. Eric Marcotte, a longtime Disney and Fox exec, is joining as EVP of Corporate Strategy and DJ Jacobs, who has held posts at Hartbeat, Riot Games and MRC, is coming aboard as EVP of Business Operations. They will work alongside Maria Anguelova, EVP, Global Head of Corporate Development. Levine shared the news with employees Wednesday in a m ...

Core Insights - Netflix's Co-CEO Ted Sarandos showcased an extensive lineup of 47 upcoming series, films, and events during the second-quarter earnings call, highlighting the company's commitment to content production over the next 18 months [2][3] - The company is experiencing a long-term trend of transitioning from linear to streaming, with Sarandos emphasizing the importance of a consistent flow of content rather than relying solely on occasional hits [3][4] Content Strategy - Sarandos mentioned that successful titles like "Squid Game" and upcoming series such as "Wednesday" and "Stranger Things" are part of a broader strategy to maintain viewer engagement [4][5] - The company plans to release notable films including "Happy Gilmore 2," "Knives Out 3," and adaptations of "Chronicles of Narnia" and "Frankenstein" in the coming years [5][6] Upcoming Releases - Upcoming series for next year include new seasons of popular titles like "Bridgerton," "One Piece," and "Avatar: The Last Airbender," as well as new original series such as "Man on Fire" and "The Boroughs" [6][7] - Sarandos also highlighted the addition of major events like NFL games on Christmas Day, indicating a strategy to attract diverse audiences [6][7] Market Position - Sarandos noted that Netflix received 44 Emmy nominations, showcasing the quality of its content compared to competitors like HBO, which had fewer nominees [3][4] - The company remains confident in its ability to satisfy viewer demand, as indicated by Co-CEO Greg Peters' remarks about the ongoing desire for more content from subscribers [7][8]

Core Viewpoint - Netflix remains indifferent to legacy media networks despite a record number of companies divesting or selling their assets [1] Group 1: Company Strategy - Netflix's CFO, Spencer Neumann, stated that the company does not believe the consolidation of legacy media will significantly alter the competitive landscape [2] - The company has historically focused on building rather than acquiring, and sees substantial growth potential without changing this strategy [2][3] - Netflix is not interested in owning legacy media networks, which narrows down potential acquisition opportunities [3] Group 2: Industry Dynamics - Major media companies like Comcast, Warner Bros. Discovery, Lionsgate, and Disney are spinning off or selling their networks, creating M&A opportunities in the industry [2] - The ongoing consolidation in the media sector is likely to continue, but Netflix's approach remains focused on organic growth and strategic investments [2][3]

KPop Demon Hunters, released June 20 and, at 80 million views, one of Netflix’s biggest animated films ever with chart-topping music to boot, had co-CEO Ted Sarandos singing its praises today. The film “is a phenomenal success out of the gate. One of the things that I’m excited, really proud of the team over, is [that it’s] original animation — not a sequel, not a live action remake. Original animation … is very tough and has been struggling for years.” Leo, The Sea Beast and now Kpop Demon Hunters are ori ...

Netflix‘s deal with TF1, announced last month at Cannes Lions, will give both companies “an opportunity to learn,” the streamer’s co-CEO, Greg Peters, said Thursday on the company’s quarterly earnings call. The milestone teaming, which will see the French broadcaster’s programming offered within the Netflix app in France starting next summer, will also be a way for Netflix to put new technology to use. “We’ve invested a lot in a bunch of enabling capabilities that are either required or highly leveraged by ...

Lionsgate has upped Erin Westerman to president of Lionsgate Motion Picture Group. This was to be expected in the wake of the news that Lionsgate Motion Picture Group president Nathan Kahane is departing at year’s end for a producing deal with the studio. Westerman was previously president of Motion Picture Production. In her role, Westerman will oversee all aspects of the development and production of Lionsgate’s theatrical slate. She will report to Adam Fogelson, chair, Lionsgate Motion Picture Group. Fo ...

Netflix topped Wall Street’s second-quarter expectations and raised its full-year forecast for revenue. Earnings per share of $7.19 beat analysts’ consensus by a dime, while revenue of $11.079 billion exceeded the Street’s outlook by a much narrower margin. The bar for revenue was in the $11.06 billion range according to most surveys of analyst sentiment. As it rolls out a big second half of 2025 on the programming front, Netflix said it was raising its revenue forecast for 2025. The updated guidance calls ...

Core Viewpoint - Netflix is expected to report strong second-quarter results, with analysts optimistic about its market position and financial performance, particularly in viewership gains and content monetization [1][2][4]. Group 1: Financial Performance Expectations - Analysts anticipate Q2 revenue around $11.04 billion, slightly above Netflix's guidance of $11.035 billion, with a consensus estimate for earnings per share (EPS) at $7.06 [4][5]. - Netflix shares have risen 41% in 2025 to date, starting Thursday's trading at $1,253, down from an all-time high of $1,341.15 in June [7]. - Several analysts have raised their price targets for Netflix, with Michael Morris of Guggenheim increasing his outlook to $1,400 from $1,150, citing the need for the company to prove its advertising business and programming strategy [8]. Group 2: Strategic Outlook and Market Position - Netflix has established a significant lead in the streaming industry, with no major global competitors currently [2]. - The company has shifted focus from reporting quarterly subscriber numbers to broader financial performance and strategic outlook, indicating a change in how investors should assess its value [3]. - Management's outlook includes a robust content slate for the second half of the year and expanded live content partnerships, which are expected to support long-term growth potential [9]. Group 3: Industry Context - The media industry is undergoing significant changes, with companies like Comcast, Warner Bros. Discovery, and Disney also set to report earnings, indicating a consolidating landscape [6]. - The advertising market has shown improvement, with more investment shifting towards connected TV (CTV), which could benefit Netflix's advertising strategy [9].